Las Vegas Market reports jump in attendance

Las Vegas -- International Market Centers said the addition of 95 new furniture and bedding exhibitors since the winter 2012 market drove a 31% increase in Las Vegas Market buyer attendance this summer over summer 2012.

IMC, which owns the Las Vegas Market, said that increase included a 13% gain in furniture retailers as well as an increase in accessory and décor buyers.

"Most noticeable were the thousands of new-to-market buyers and the broad representation from all 50 states and more than 60 countries," IMC said in a release. IMC does not release actual buyer attendance figures.

"Overall, our furniture exhibitors were very pleased," said Tom Mitchell, president of home furnishings for IMC. "They saw more accounts than in past summer markets and they are clearly doing more business here."

Mitchell added that the market also is seeing an improving trend in leasing, noting the addition of more than 700,000 square feet of new exhibitors and that more than 96% of the market's furniture space is now leased.

The release quoted various exhibitors and retailers giving the summer market glowing reviews, including Lexington Home Brands ceo Phil Haney, who said the market "gives us the opportunity to connect with West Coast retailers as well as the design community."

He added that Lexington also gets its best East Coast dealers and international customers here, too.

Lexington launched two new collections here, and Haney said Las Vegas is becoming "the outdoor market."

"We are able to attract the right people here and we have the right venue to show product that we cannot do in any other marketplace," he said.

IMC said the addition of many higher-end, design oriented brands, helped the show attract more designer and high-end retailers this time. Paul Watson, president of Christopher Guy-Americas, said in the release that his company was "thrilled" with its strong order writing and that it exceeded its sales goals by 200%.

Mitchell said IMC's primary short-term objective for the Jan. 26-20, 2014 winter market is "to increase both the quality and quantity of both buyers and suppliers."